Associate Planner

City of Lone Tree • Lone Tree, CO

1d • $74,090 - $90,761 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Planner performs professional current and long-range planning work under guidance, including plan reviews, planning studies, and related activities involving administration, development, and enforcement of the Comprehensive Plan, zoning and subdivision codes, design standards, and other regulations. The position works collaboratively within the Planning Division and with City departments, consultants, and agency partners, and involves extensive public contact, presentations, and occasional meetings outside regular working hours.

This is the full journey-level position in the Planning Division. The Associate Planner independently handles a broad range of planning activities, including daily current planning duties and more complex assignments, using initiative and judgment and requiring only occasional assistance in unusual situations. The role works under the general supervision of the Principal Planner and does not exercise supervision.

The position is full-time and exempt. The City’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the actual schedule is determined upon hire and requires availability to work evenings and weekends. Flextime and hybrid remote schedules may be offered at managers’ discretion. The Planning Division offers a coordinated 3-2 schedule, with three days in the office and two remote, while maintaining daily in-office presence. The work is mainly office-based with some required fieldwork at construction, developed, and undeveloped sites.

The hiring range is $74,090–$90,761 annually, and the salary range is $74,090–$107,431 annually. The City offers medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts and supplemental health plans; access to an onsite gym and recreation center; an Employee Assistance Program and wellness initiatives; life and disability insurance; retirement savings and pension plans; and an RTD EcoPass.

Requirements

• Qualifying education and experience may be demonstrated through any combination that establishes the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Master’s degree in planning, urban design, community or regional development, natural resources, public administration, or a closely related field, plus at least one year of paid professional land-use planning experience in the public or private sector performing comparable duties; or
• Bachelor’s degree in planning, urban design, community or regional development, natural resources, environmental studies, geography, public administration, or a closely related field, plus at least three years of progressively responsible local-government or private-sector planning experience performing comparable duties; or
• Associate’s degree in geography, geographic information systems, landscape architecture, environmental or natural resource sciences, or a closely related field, plus at least five years of progressively responsible local-government or private-sector planning experience performing comparable duties.
• Knowledge of local-government planning objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information services, and trends.
• Knowledge of zoning, land use, urban design, demographic, environmental, and social and economic planning concepts and principles.
• Knowledge of planning terminology, symbols, methods, techniques, site plans, and plats; site planning, architectural review, and design; and the roles and authorities of councils, commissions, and others in the planning process.
• Solid knowledge of federal, state, and local planning regulations.
• Knowledge of modern office procedures and methods, computer equipment, word processing, spreadsheets, database organization, graphic presentations, specialized software, and electronic communication.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, verbal, writing, presentation, and public-speaking skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with people of varied backgrounds and explain regulations clearly and tactfully to the public.
• Professionalism, integrity, credibility, thoroughness, flexibility, collaboration, customer-service skills, and the ability to meet strict deadlines and follow instructions.
• Attention to detail when reviewing plans, maps, and reports; strong time-management and organizational skills; and the ability to resolve complicated situations with diplomacy and tact and seek supervisory assistance when appropriate.
• Critical and creative thinking skills, including the ability to assess complex planning issues, analyze data, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective actions regarding zoning policies and land-use ordinances.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, regulations, specifications, site and building plans, environmental impact reports, data, and maps to development proposals.
• Ability to take initiative, solve problems, work in a fast-paced professional environment, and adapt to different team and leadership frameworks.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and accurately maintain and present planning information.
• Ability to uphold the American Planning Association’s Ethical Principles in Planning and align daily work with City organizational goals.
• Ability to safely operate motor vehicles in the normal course of assignments.
• Ability to perform fieldwork involving walking at construction, developed, and undeveloped sites; work may involve bending, stooping, reaching, climbing, carrying, and lifting, including up to 25 pounds for short periods.
• Visual acuity to read paper and electronic documents and the ability to answer telephones, communicate in conversation, and respond to verbal inquiries.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of GIS and/or graphic programs such as SketchUp.
• Experience with Esri GIS software platforms, online or desktop.
• Experience with Smartsheet, Bluebeam, and Accella.
• Flextime and hybrid remote schedules may be available at managers’ discretion; the Planning Division offers a coordinated 3-2 office/remote schedule.

Responsibilities

• Assist the public and customers with zoning and land-use inquiries, answer technical questions, and provide information to property owners, architects, developers, realtors, appraisers, and members of the public.
• Review development proposals for compliance with City codes, guidelines, policies, and best planning practices; work with applicants to refine plans and negotiate compliant development solutions where possible.
• Process land-use applications, including conducting pre-submittal meetings, reviewing zoning and subdivision applications, communicating with referral agencies and community members, preparing Planning Commission and City Council information packets, presenting in public forums, and inspecting projects for compliance with approved plans.
• Review building and grading permit applications for consistency with approved development plans and land-use regulations.
• Review sign permits.
• Conduct on-site inspections with the Building Division to verify development compliance with site plans before building permits and certificates of occupancy are issued.
• Gather and analyze data; prepare staff reports, maps, and public-hearing notices; formulate departmental recommendations on land-use requests; and present at public meetings throughout the City.
• Research planning issues and prepare reports for the Planning Commission and City Council.
• Under the supervision of the Principal Planner and/or Planning Manager, prepare staff recommendations for the Planning Commission and City Council regarding development proposals.
• Assist the Planning Manager, Principal Planner, and/or Senior Planners with specialized policy initiatives and projects, potentially including hazard mitigation, parks and trails planning, and sustainability.
• Maintain accurate planning records and collect, compile, analyze, and present technical, statistical, and graphical information.
• Attend occasional meetings outside regular working hours and be available to work evenings and weekends.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts and supplemental health plans.
• Access to an onsite gym and Lone Tree Recreation Center.
• Employee Assistance Program and wellness initiatives.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and voluntary life insurance options.
• Retirement savings options, including 457, 401(k), and Roth IRA plans, and participation in PERA and FPPA pension plans.
• RTD EcoPass for public transportation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree